Monday, August 16, 2021
#FREESPEECH in the News August 16, 2021
As the Citadel of Free Speech here in Cleveland, we work to protect and promote the basis of our democracy by sharing related stories, commentary, and opinions on free speech in the 21st century. Here's what's making the news – and what you should know about – in the past week.
1.) Skill games lawsuit spurs First Amendment debate
A lawsuit challenging Virginia’s ban on skill games is fueling a debate over the First Amendment.
Former NASCAR driver and truck stop owner Hermie Sadler filed the lawsuit, arguing the ban violates his constitutional rights. This week, his attorney Bill Stanley responded to the state’s claim that skill games and Sadler’s company are not entitled to free speech protections.
“The Supreme Court of the United States has always said that businesses have a first amendment right to free speech in their advertising,” Stanley told WDBJ7. “That’s how they bring customers in, whether they advertise on TV, radio or even just a sheet of paper that they put in the window. They have that right of free speech just as the individual does.”
The state has requested a change of venue, to move the trial from Emporia, where Sadler’s truck stop is located, to Richmond.
2.) Misinformation about COVID-19 at public forums vexes local boards, big tech
Public forums before local school boards and city councils are the latest sources of misinformation about COVID-19.
Videos of people criticizing masks or vaccines as ineffective have been seen by millions of people and are creating new challenges for local governments and tech companies looking to weigh free speech against the harm of misleading medical claims.
YouTube had removed videos of several local government meetings.
But the deleting the videos has sparked a debate about government transparency. YouTube recently reversed its decision and restored many of the videos back on the site.
3.) Alabama AG Steve Marshall wants to hear from people blocked by social media
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has launched an initiative aimed at what he calls the “growing menace” of censorship by social media giants such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, echoing former President Donald Trump’s complaints about alleged bias.
Marshall has teamed up with Louisiana AG Jeff Landry to gather complaints from social media users about suspensions, content blocking, and other restrictions they have encountered.
Marshall said social media companies are trying to silence voices they don’t like and said he wants to determine if they are breaking state or federal laws.
But two law professors and a journalism professor who spoke with AL.com said the Constitution and federal law provides broad protections for social media companies to set their own rules and policies about content.
